Excavating and loading machine



W. M'. GROSS.

ExCAvATlNG AND LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6. 1916. RENEWED DEC. 4,1919.

1,332,662, Patented Mar. 2,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- WLQO w. M. GRoss. EXCAVATING AND LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 6 ISIS- RENEWED DEC. 4| I9l9 Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- w. M. GRUSS.

EXCAVATING AND LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6.. I9I6 RENEWED DEC. 4J |919.

1,332,662. Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

a SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.II'G 7 f A WMU/4MM G6055 "JYWILLI'AMf ivi; enossgfoia LAS VEGAS, NEVADA.

EXCAVATING AND LOADING-MACHINE Specification of Iiettersillatent.

Patented Mar. 2,1920.

. Application ledDecember 6', 1916, Serial .N2'135,441.^`ReneWed December 4,-1919. Serial No.` 342,498.

To all 'whom t may Concern:

' Be it'knowvn that flV-nmiaiiiM.r GRoss, a citizen of `rthe" UnitecVSt'ates, residingA at Las Vegas, in the `couiity'of Clark and State ofL Nevada, havel inventednew and "useful vImprovements' is Excavating and Loading Machines, of which the following is a yspecification. v

This' invention ielates tok aii'excavating and'loading machine 'and'particularly"to a machine for excavating and loading: dirt.

It is an .objectfof' this invention/to 'provide a machine 'which'v niaybeffopera-ted manually or byjpower to loosen 'andexcavate dirty from embaiilni'ients 'orpits 'and -elevateA it to a suit-'able 'loading-level', :from which it may bedischarged, .said'machine ybeing light in constructionand' simple in opera-tion, thereby' requiring the "attendance of feiv Workmen.

Anotherobject oftliislinvention is to-provide a machine. of4the` above' character Which is lsodesigned as tobe flexibly manipulated to excavate `and loadldirt .throughout avvide range of operation Without a changein position.

Another object of this invention is 'to provide' excavating meanswhich` will loosen aiidfeedthezsoil to a suitable loadiiigl'platforni, said excavating means being: so constructed as to operate'fcontinuously irrespective ofthequantityfof*soil fedthereto and the rate of speed` at which the -loadingfmechanisin operates.

-Another`object is to provide an excavating machine which will feedfits Way'iiitofan embankment at anylevel or` angle rat which it is started. h

'.Another object is to provide an 'excavating machine which .will cut to any desired depth through anK embankment after' it is once started. at'the desired level, and regardless of the aniountof'tlie.embankment above the level, Within reasonable limits.k

Another object is to-pi'ovide ustable means 'Wherebythe depth at Whichthe niachine ,operates may be readily determined and varied as occasion may-require.

@another objectof this invention is to provide a machine of the above character having asubstantial frameworkso constructed as to be readily moved' from'iplace to place aslthe Work proceeds.

" It is a further object to provide an excavating and loading machine whichk possesses few-movable arts which are l'liable to Abecome Worn or bro ien.

Other objectsavill' appear hereinafter. Tlieiinvention is illustrated, 'by lWay of example, in the accompanying'drawings in which; y

`Figure 1 1s a view in sideelevation illustrating'the Acompl-ete excavating and load- -inachine asfset` up yfor operation.

Fig?` is a vieWin plan showingtlie excavator and loading platform in their posi- 'tionsf between lthe'npright supports pro- Athe loaded platform conve-yer belt.

*Fig l is a view` in section and elevation 'illustrating the mounting provided "one .of thedrivingsprockets by which the conveyer belt is driven.

-' Fig. 'is a view of the traveling support by'wliicli theA rear end .of the loading platform' is l'li"eld,"as seen 'on `the liiie 5 5 o Fig. 1.

-Fig.`r 6 is a view in section and elevation, as seenioii theline 6-'6.of Fig. 1 illustratesthc manner in which the forivard Vend oflthe loadingplatform is supported.

"Eigf' is a view @in side elevation illustrating a-niodified form of excavating niember adapted to be used inline soil or` sand.

Referring `more particularly to the drawings," 10 and 11 are a'pair ofV skid :timbers ivhiclivlie parallel to eachother and -they rest upontheground to rform a substantial supportforthe excavating mechanism and serve as-ii1iiiieis. 1 Mounted upoiilthe 'skid are a-series ofupriglit' supports 12, 13, 14, and 15 which are lierelshown as being formed of tubular section for the sake .of strength and lightness. 'These members are secured to the skids by means-of fittings '16 Wliicli are suitably held by bolts 17. The uprights extend perpendicular to theiry mounting and are.parallelto` eachother. The upper end of each upright-.isy 'fitted With affitting 18v adapted to receive the ends of horizontally extending reinforcing pipes Which connect the `upperends of the .uprights and hold them inrigid relation to each other. Mounted upon reinforcing pipes 1S) and 20 which extend transversely on the machine .are a pair of channel track members 2l and 22, upon which a traveling carriage 23 is adapt ed to travel for a purpose which will be hereinafter set forth.

Secured to and supported by the channel members 2l and 22 at a point midway their length, is a mast 2st which is pivotally mounted upon a casting 25 and extends vertically therefrom to provide a revolving support for a horizontally swinging beam 26. The track beam 26 is formed as set forth in Fig'. 5 of the drawings and is supported by truss member 27 which is in turn fastened to a pivot plate 2S within which the upper end of the mast 2l is adapted to rotate. The plate 28 is rigidl)7 held by means of the guy rod 29 which is secured to the channel members 2l and at their rear end. The beam 26 is provided as a track for a traveling carriage 30 adapted to support the forward end of a loading platform or draper 31.

It will thus be seen that the loading platform or draper 3l is movably supported by carriages 23 and 30 which are provided with longitudinal movement along the channel members 21 and 23 and the beam 26. Reference being had to Fig. 5-of the drawings, it will be seen that the carriage 30 is formed with a pair of side plates 31 and 82 adapted to be suspended from shaft 33 of wheel 34: with which the carriage is provided. This wheel is adapted to bear upon the upper face of the beam 2G and is formed with an enlarged central iiange adapted to extend between the channels of which the beam is constructed. The side plates 3l and 32 extend downwardly upon opposite sides of the beam and converge there beneath to provide a suitable support for a pivot bolt 8G upon which a pulley 37 is rotatably secured. This pulley is provided to receive a supporting chain 38, one end of which, is fitted with a ring 39 and the other end is provided with a hook 40 adapted to pass through the ring and engage the various links of the chain to raise and lower the forward end of the loading platform. Secured to the ringl 39, is a sling 4l which extends downwardly and is yheld in pivotal engagement with the opposite sides of the frame of the loading platform. This sling is fitted with a lever 42. which may be manipulated to directly raise and lower the forward end of the loading platform.

The rear end of the platform 31 is supported by lengths of chain 42, secured to the frame of the platform upon its opposite sides and engaged by an eye bolt L3 at their upper ends. The eye bolt 43 is secured within the lower end of a hanger rod all which depends from the carriage 23 and extends downwardly between the channel track members 2l and 22. rThis carriage is provided with a series of wheels l5 formed with enlarged flanges adapted to engage the inner faces of the channels. By means of these two carriages, the loading platform may be moved longitudinally of the supporting frame and will allow the forward end of the loading platform to be advanced and retracted in relation to the embank` ment from which the soil is being removed.

The loading platform 31 constructed with side frame members Ll-( and 4:7 which form supports for conveyer rollers 48 and 49 disposed at opposite ends of the frame and in parallel relation to each. other, so that a conveyer belt 50 may be adapted to be rotated in the direction of the arrow CL as shown on Fig. 2 of the drawing by means of a motor 5l which secured beneath the loading platform and is provided with a belt 52 adapted to rotate a pulley 53 secured to the shaft of the roller 48. VIt will be understood that other motive power could be used to drive the belt 50 without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The belt roller 4:9 is shielded beneath a plate 54 which is molded ver the forward tapered ends of the frame members d6 and 47.

Mounted through the frame members of the loading platform at a convenient point adjacent their forward ends is a pivot shaft 55 upon which is rotatably mounted a pair of radial arms 56 and 59 within which a cutter shaft G0 is mounted. This shaft extends parallel to the belt roller shafts and has 100 fixed upon it a cutter drum G1 formed with longitudinally extending ridge portions against which cutter knives 62 and 63 are bolted. The knives designated by the numeral 62 act as scrapers as they extend the 105 full length of the rollers. The knives 63 are of slight width and act as teeth to break u and loosen the soil to be excavated. Either of these sets of knives may be removed as desired and readily interchanged 110 to meet the requirements produced by varying soil conditions.

The drum 61 is adapted t0 be operated by the motor 5l by means of a chain Gil wiich extends along the outside of frame 115 channel 47 and passes around a sprocket 65 secured upon a shaft 66 which extends across the loading platform between the upper and lower lengths of belting to the opposite side of the platform where it is 12o fitted with a gear 67. This gear is in mesh with a gear 68 which reverses the directing of rotation and causes the cutter drum to rotate in the direction of the arrow bwin Fig. l. Power is transmitted to the drum from `gear 68 by means of the chain 69 driven thereby @and /ad'apted to transmit movement of rotation to the pivot shaft 55. This shaft is fitted with a pair of sprockets 7() and 7l adapted to drive side chains 72 130 drum 61 may be rotated to act to draw the soil downward upon the end of the conveyer `beltand further permit the drum to Y have radial-movement in relation yto pivot s squarely encounter it.

shaft 61 without interruption of the delivery of-power thereto.

y'In operation, the machine is set up as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and when the motor is supplied with electrical energy, operation will immediately take place. The forward end of the loading platform is positioned in relation to the embankment to be excavated so that the cutter drum will Afterward, a workman may grasp lhandle 77 secured to the side of the loading platform frame members and swing the entire platform toward and away from the embankment as indicated by the arrow -0- of Fig. 1. As the platform and the cutt-er drum move forward, the carriages 23 and 30 advance along the tracks and beam, until the knives of the cutter drum encounter the soil. When the knives dig into the soil, they will loosen it and pull it downwardly onto the forward end of the loading platform, from whence it will be conveyed and distributed along the conveyer belt. lVhen the belt has been covered with the soil, it will be dumped from the upper endof the belt into wagons or trucks or may be elevated upon the lloading platform by raising the platform in relation to its carriages. When it is desired to change the level at' which themachine is cutting, the chainY 38may be lengthened and shortened as well as the chains -42 and 43. In this manner one man may easily control one machine. In case it is desired to raise and lower the forward end of the loading platform upon which is mounted the cutter drum, the lever 42 is manipulated to directly lengthen and shorten chain 38 as will be understood by examination of'Fig. 1 of the drawings.

It will be further noted that by the peculiar arrangement of the cutter drum in relation t0 the loading platform an excessive quantity of soil may be fed Ibeneath drum without choking the machine, as the drum will automatically rise above the mass of earth and operate without obstruction. This feature of construction is also embodied within the modified form of the invention as disclosed in Fig. 7 of the drawings in which a conveyer belt 78 is employed in place of the cutter drum and provided with a series of tooth members 79 adapted to loosen the soil and drag it upon the loading platform.

As means for preventing back lash in the mechanism, a dragging brace 8O is provided to wedge the conveyer and its cutter in its forward operative position andl prevent backward movement. Stopmembers 81k are alsoprovided to limit the downward movement ofthe 'cutter drumand prevent damage-to the=machine.

kIn case it isdesired to move the front lend of the loading platform and its cutter drum,thefbeam 261may bek swung radially with its mast 24 as will be readily understood. The radial movement ofthe loading platforml will beflimited by the distance ybetween uprights 13 and '15 ofithe supporting frame.

It will thus be seen that Ithe excavating andlloading machine as disclosed in thek accompanying drawings and described in the specifica-tion provides simple aird effective means for loosening, excavating and loading soil without requiring the attendancefof a great number of workmen or the use of heavy lpower generating and transmitting machinery. It is also evident that the loading platform could be used without the necessity of using the cutter drum if desired, and furthermore, that the machine could besol designed as to be manually operated.

Special attention is called to the following important features. The cutter drum 61 provided withthe cutting knives 63'and the Scrapers 62 of the same height 'and adapted to cut to the same depthand ex tending longitudinally from end to end. of

the drum to tear up the hard material and scrape the fine material upon the loading belt of the draper 31,y will dig just to the bottom of the draper nose, thereby allowing thedraper or loadingplatform to slide in the space'dug out by the cutter and making the feed automatic. If the machine were pit into motion and not stopped, it would fe d itself into an embankment, as far as the carriages and tracks would allow, by the action of the cutter drum pulling upon the draper and drawing the draper forwardly as fast as there is a clearance for it, and scraping level and smooth surface with the nose of the draper to the bottom of the cut material. The drum would climb the embankment until the nose of the draper encountered resistance enough to stop, and then the cutter drum would dig up and down the face of the embankment and dig down to the level of the bottom of the draper and pull the draper forwardly as fast as the embankment is out down. Of course, the supporting frame must be moved as often as the machine reaches the forward limit of travel upon the tracks. No matter how much of an embankment is in front of the machine, within reasonable limits, the cutting drum will travel up and down the face of the embankment and cut it away and as soon as the resistance at the nose of the draper is cut away by the cutting drum, the draper will advance by the pull of the cutting drum upon the material. The stop 81 allows the cutting drum to go downwardly only to the level of the draper nose. As the embankment is cut away and the draper advances, the dragging braces S0 serve as pawls and the solid earth serves as the ratchet stops, thus holding the drapers nose to the embankment and preventing backward movement.

During this operation the cutting drum is rotating to cut downwardly, that is the side of the drum contacting with the bank is moving downwardly so that if the bank furnishes sufficient resistance it will elevate the drum and when the resistance is cut away the drum will fall by gravity.

TWhile I have shown the preferred construction of my excavating and loading machine as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. In an excavator and loader, a suitable support having a rigid elevated track and a swinging elevated track, carriages mounted upon the tracks, a platform suspended from the carriages so that the forward end of the platform may swing laterally by the movement of the swinging track, a frame connected to the platform and projecting beyond the front of the platform and adapted to swing up and down, a cutting drum mounted in the forward end of the frame and adapted to swing downwardly to a level with the bottom of the platform, and means for operating the cutting drum to cut downwardly upon the face of an embankment.

Q. In an excavating' machine, a support, elevated tracks upon the support, carriages mounted upon the tracks, a platform suspended from the carriages, a cutting drum pivotally connected to the platform and extending forwardly, dragging braces carried by the platform, and means for o erating the cutting drum torcut downwarly upon the face of an embankment; so that the cutting drum will climb an embankment, then cut its way down, to remove the resistance in front of the platform, and then feed the platform forwardly.

In an excavating machine, a support, elevated tracks upon the support, a carriage mounted upon said tracks, a platform, a flexible supporting connection between the carriage and one end of the platform, a horizontal track beam swinging above the elevated track, a carriage mounted upon said track beam, means whereby the opposite end of the platform may be flexibly supported from the carriage upon said track beam, means for raising and lowering the end of the platform supported by the track beam, a cutting drum pivotally connected to the platform and adapted to extend forwardly therefrom, means for adjustably holding the cutting drum in relation to the end of the platform, and means for operating the cutting drum to cut downwardly upon the face of an embankment and deliver the loosened material to the end of the platform. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thisspecilication.

WILLIAM M. GROSS. 

